Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified documents
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has pleaded guilty to illegally retaining classified documents, ending a high-profile case linked to notes he kept while serving in Donald Trump’s administration.
Bolton admitted to one count of unlawful retention of classified national security information after initially pleading not guilty to multiple charges. Prosecutors said the documents included diary entries containing sensitive defence information, some classified at the highest levels, which he retained and shared improperly.
As part of the plea agreement, Bolton faces a possible prison sentence of up to five years, has agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine, and will cooperate with national security officials by debriefing them on the classified material. He will also complete 100 hours of community service ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for October.
The case stems from the publication of Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which detailed his time in the Trump administration and led to a Justice Department investigation over the handling of classified information. Prosecutors said Bolton’s actions placed US national security at risk, while the former adviser told the court he accepted responsibility and expressed remorse.
